AUBURN, Ala. – For the sixth time in program history, Kennesaw State will take part in an NCAA Regional as they will participate in the Auburn Regional starting Monday.
The Auburn Regional will be contested at the par 72, 7,326-yard University Club, in Auburn, Ala. and hosted by Auburn University from May 6-8.
KSU will be making its sixth appearance in the NCAA Women’s Golf Regionals after automatically qualifying for postseason play following a win at the 2024 ASUN Conference Championship. It’s the first time in three seasons they have made it to an NCAA Regional.
The field for the Auburn Regional includes No. 2 South Carolina, No. 7 Auburn, No. 14 Oregon, No. 23 Georgia, No. 29 North Carolina, No. 36 Michigan, No. 38 Houston, No. 47 Tulsa, No. 50 Miami, No. 110 ETSU & No. 193 Albany.
12 teams and six individuals not on those teams will compete. The low five teams and the individual not on those teams will advance to the finals. Beginning in 2024, regional champion awards will be given to the team champions. Should KSU reach the national championships, it would be just the third program in conference history to reach the finals. The NCAA finals take place in Carlsbad, Calif. May 17-22.
Regional History
KSU was unable to play in their most recent regional in 2021 as the Baton Rouge tournament was canceled. That means the final regional the Owls have competed in was at Saugahatchee Country Club; Opelika, Ala. in 2019. The Owls shot 905 (+41) as the finished 14th in the 18 team field. The 14th place finished marked the third straight regional finish the Owls have finished in the 14th spot (2015, 2018 & 2019).
2018’s NCAA Regional proved to be the Owls’ best performances as they finished with an 21-over 885 team score, 13 strokes better than their next closest (2015).
Last Time Out
The win in the ASUN Championship claimed the first in the Erin Thorne era and the first tournament or invitational win of the season for the Owls.
Bella Kil wrapped up another top-10 performance which moved her into a class of her own. Showcasing 15 top-10 finishes, Kil now is the all-time program leader, passing Ket Preamchuen (14). In round two, she tied the all-time program record with a 66-round score. It was only the second time an Owl has done so in the ASUN Championship.
The Owls entered the day with back-to-back finishes in second place in rounds one and two. They started the final day five strokes behind Lipscomb and concluded two strokes ahead of the Bisons.
KSU ended the tournament with three ASUN All-Tournament team bids (Kil, Campbell-Nyman & Nagayo).
Lineup
Substitute: Sabrina Kim
Tee Time
The Owls will tee off starting at 8:55 a.m. CT with the final drive coming at 9:39 a.m. CT off of the 10th tee.